Plumber&#39;s snake tool



April 14, 1936.

i. YOHN PLUMBERS SNAKE TOOL Original Filed Sept. 19, 1933 Patented Apr. 14, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE- 'z'.os'z,1o4 I PLUMBERS SNAKE 'rooi.

Ira D. Yohn, Los Angeles, Calif.

Continuation of application Serial No. 633,801,

September 19, 1932. This application October 7, 1935, Serial No. 43,989

11 Claims. (01. 15-10430) This invention relates to flexible shafting and storage means therefor and forms a continuation of my prior application, Serial No. 633,801, flled September 19, 1932, and now abandoned. I

* Such shafting iscommonly used to carry a tool actuated by the rotation of the shafting anda particular field of usefulnessof the invention is in connection with so-called "plumber's snakes which are used, with a. tool on the end, to clear obstructed drains, sewer pipes, soil pipes, traps and other conduits which frequently become ob- 'into which the shaft may be readily fed for storage of substantially all of the shaft or of such part as may not be needed for use.

Devices for this general purpose are not new but many such devices involve the use of a'reel on which the unwanted part of the shaft is wound. The use of such a reel adds to the weight and complication of the housing.

A third important object of the invention is to provide a novel device of this character wherein the housing is so arranged that the flexible shaft will be automatically coiled in closely compacted convolutions as it is fed into the housing.

A fourth important object of the invention is to provide such a novel housing device with an operating handle by which the housing may .be

revolved about the axis of the part of the shaft issuing from the housing.

A fifth important object of the invention is to provide such a novel form of housing with releasable means for securing the shaft -ag ainst movement into and out of the housing and against rotary movement independent of the h0using.l

A sixth important object of the invention is to so arrange the housing that'the weight of the housed shaft will be carried substantiallyat the rear or handle end of the housing.

A seventh important object of the invention is to. provide a device of this character wherein the.

usual lumber's snake of resilient character and roughened surface may be provided with an improved arrangement of cage andguide whereby the snake will be held by the pressure due to its resiliency frictionally against the cage to rotate therewith.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in general of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing like characters of reference indicate like parts in the several views, and:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a form of the invention for use as a plumber's snake, a sink and its drain being illustrated partly in section to show the manner of using the invention.

Figure 2 is a. longitudinal diametric section of the, invention shown in Figure 1, the view being to an enlarged scale and partly in elevation.

Figure 3 is a side elevation, partly in section,

of a second form of the invention, this form being particularly adapted for larger sizes of the device.

Figured is an enlarged detail view partly in section and partly in elevation and showing the manner of securing ahandle to this second form.

Referring with particularity to the drawing, in the embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 1 and 2, A designates generally, a plumber's hand tool or snake, B designates the case thereof,

C designates the flexible and extensible member thereof, and D designates a conduit or trap to be cleared, or from which an obstruction is to be cleared by the tool.

The cage B is shown as formed of sheet metal or other suitable material and as comprising an outerhollow conical shell 5 which terminates at the-apex thereof ina longitudinally apertured tubular grip and snake guide 6 the bore 6' of whichis shown as of cylindrical form at the outer portion thereof as at 6 the wall of the conical bore portion merging into the internal conical wall 5 of the conical shell 5, as at 6. The shell 5 is apertured or cut away as at 5 for lightness and ventilation. A radial internally -screwthreaded aperture i=- is provided in the wall of the tubular guide t for the reception of aset screw 7 having a thumb piece 7 by which is adapted to be .tightened against the flexible member C, and which constitutes releasable clamping, locking or securing meansm 'A head or spider 8 is united with the conical shell 5 at its base, as at 8'. .Guide means, comprising a concentrically arranged conical shell 9 cured or united with the head as at 8". This central guide cone is shown as having a blunt or rounded guide apex at 9'. A manipulating handle or concentric grip I is shown as projecting outwardly from the head 8 to which it is secured, as at H). This grip may also be formed from a sheet of metal. A v

The flexible and extensible member C may comprise a strip of heavy metallic wire wound into the form of a closely coiled helix, and the same may comprise a long and flexible body portion II and an enlarged and suitably shaped point or head II. This member or conduit-cleanin snake C has the end opposite the head entered into the bore of the tubular guide to place the same therein, the following portions being simply successively pushed in, the coiling of the snake or member C in the cage being automatic due to the conical formation of the internal wall surface of the cage as the snake is progressively pushed in. The reason for this will be appreciated when it is considered that the base of the cone is remote from the guide and the resiliency of the snake tends to cause the coils formed to be of the largest possible diameter to flt within the conical cage.

By reason of the housing being taperingly enlarged to its rear end the entering end of the shaft or snake engages the head 8 and flexes as at Ha. This flexing of the snake, by reason of the inherent resiliency of the flexible shaft or snake, causes it to coil, the first coil being against the head. Since the snake normally tends to straighten, due to its resiliency, the first coil formed will be the largest possible which can exist in the limits of the housing. Also, since the largest diameter of the housing is at its rear or handle end, this first coil will be formed at the junction of the base and side of theshell. Asthe feeding of the flexible snake into the housing is continued each succeeding convolution H is similarly formed in the largest remaining unoccupied portion of the housing wall, that is to say, against the preceding coil or, when a number of convolutions having been laid up against the side wall, within the previous convolutions.

This, of course, causes the major portion of the weight of the coiled snake and housing to lie at the rear or head end of the housing. This action will take place even without the central guide 9 but this guide, having its side parallel to the side wall of the housing, prevents convolutions of too small a diameter being formed with the production of permanent bends or kinks being caused in the flexible snake; The guide also assists in directing the forming convolutions outwardly against the outer wall. When the head II has shown in Figure 1, pushes more of the snake into the bore, or conduit until the head has rounded the return bend I2 and has entered the drain, connection, or sewer I3, the snake being readily drawn out of its coiled position by. one hand. The set screw 1 is now tightened against the snake C and the operator may readily turn or spin the entire device by means of its handle or grip III, which is held in one hand, and the guide Gwhich is held in the other hand. When the operation is completed the set screw 1 is loosened 2,087,104 is flxedin the outer apertured shell 5, being se and the snake is pushed back into the housing to resume its original stored position.

In the heavier and larger form of embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 3 and 4, a device having parts similar to the parts of the device' just described, with the exception of the handle grip l0, is-provlded. A cage comprising an apertured outer conical shell I4, an inner conical guide shell i5, an apertured guide l6, set screw, I1, and head I8 is provided, and a flexible and extensible member or snake I9 is normally housed in the cage by automatically coiling the same therein as before.

It is to be noted that for light duty it is unnecessary to clamp the snake in the guide because the frictional engagement of the rough surfaced snake with the guide will be sufiicient to cause actuation of the projecting portion of the snake upon actuation of the cage. In use for heavy duty the clamp may be applied so that there is a positive grip between the snake and the guide which forms a portion of the cage and therefore the cage, when actuated, will actuate the projecting portion of the snake. It is also to be understood that any other means than friction and a clamp may be utilized in order to cause the snake and guide to move together in their reciprocating movement.

A hub 20 having a concentric bore 20', extends inwardly into the central guide cone or shell l from the head l8, by which it is supported. and by which the shells, l4 and I5 are held in assemblage. A short cylindrical portion I4 is formed at the base of the conical portion M" of the shell I5 and interposed between the head It and such portion Mi.

Mounting means, shown as comprising a base 2| which may be in the form of a spider, the legs 2| of which may rest upon a floor. A standard or upright 22 extends upwardly from the base and carries a stud or fixed shaft 23 extending laterally from the standard 22. A handle or grip 3 is formed by laterally extending the upper end of the upright or standard. The shaft 23 is passed through the bore 20' of the hub 20 and a collar 24, secured to the shaft 23, as by means of a pin 25, holds the parts in assemblage.

The snake I9, is shown as partly entered into a horizontal conduit, and it may be rotated by turning the cage upon its 'axisas by means of the palm of the hand or the sole of the shoe suitably applied to the cylindrical portion I4 of the cage.

Eorceiling conduits or overhead work, it is only necessaryto tilt the device over backwards, to the position upon the floor shown in dotted lines in Figure 3. The mounting means now rests upon the two rearwardly disposed legs 2| of the spider or base 2|, and upon the terminus of the carrying grip 23'. The tubular snake guide now points toward the ceiling. With the device so positioned, the operator may conveniently direct the snake upwards and into a conduit, or into a conduit located high above the floor, and while standing erect turn the cage to rotatably drive the snake, by working one foot against the cylindrical drive portion M of the cage, such portion afiording a proper leverage for rotating the hous- While the outer wall of the housing and the central guide member is here shown as conical it is' to be noted that the body of the device may be of any desired form which increases in size from front to rear so that the larger convolutions of the snake will form at or close to the head. Similarly, the central guide may.be of any desired form to assist in causing the coils to form at the large rear end of the shell.

By reason of the weight being principally at the rear of the device it is much easier to handle than those devices in which the unused length of thesnake is coiled at a distance from the base.

There has thus been provided a simple and'eflicient device of the kind described and for the purpose specified.

It is obvious that minor changes may be made in the form and construction of the invention without departing from the material spirit thereof: It is not, therefore, desired to confine the invention to the exact form herein shown and described, but it is desired to include all suchas properly come within the scope claimed.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, is: i

l. A plumbers pipe clearing tool including a flexible and resilient snake, a casing wherein said snake maybe held in coiled condition, said casing having a closed rear end and having a guide opposite the central part of said closed rear end wherethrough said snake passes from the casing, and a spreader within the casing seated onthe rear end and having its exterior substantially. conforming to the shape of the casing, said spreader acting to direct the snake toward the casing side as it is moved into said casing through the guide.

2. A plumbers pipe clearing tool including a flexible and resilient'snake, a casing wherein said snake may be held in coiled condition, said casing having a closed rear end and having a guide opposite the central part of said closed rear end wherethrough said snake passes from the casing, and a spreader within the casing. seated on the rear end and having its exterior substantially conformingto the shape of the casing, said spreader acting to direct the snake toward the casing side as it is moved into said casing through the guide. said casing and guide tapering from their rear ends forwardly and the spreader being substantially axially aligned with said guide.

3. A plumbers pipe clearing tool of the character disclosed comprising a flexible resilient snake adaptedto be normally coiled about its axis of projection, a substantially conical cage. an inner spreader member, a head disposed across the base of said spreader'member and said cage and uniting said spreader member and shell, a guide member at the apex of said shell and adapted to have said snake passed longitudinally therethrough, and-clamping means associated with said guide member for releasably securing said snake in said guide member in any of its positions of adjustment relative thereto.

4. A plumbers tool of the character disclosed comprising a flexible resilient cleaning rod having a roughened exterior for drains and the like adapted for projection into a drain, a coil forming device adapted to receive said rod longitudinally and store the same transversely, sad co l forming device comprising an inner conical spreader memher and an outer truncated conical member, a

head'at the bases of said conical members uniting the same. a guide at the truncated end of said outer memberadapted to have said rod passed longitudinally therethrough and to guide the same, and said guide being adapted to be engaged with the roughened surface of said rod and to be manipulated to work the projected end of the same in a drain.

5. A plumber's snake tool of the character disclosed comprising a resilient and flexible slender member decreasing in conduit-cleaning snake adapted to .be entered and rotated about in conduit-cleaning action in a tortuous passageway, said snake comprising a 'resilient hclically wound metallic device adapted to negotiate the turns of the conduit, and a rotatable and reciprocable cage for said snake adapted to have. said snake entered thereinto longitudinally of the axis thereof and automatically coiled theren by the formation-of a rotating coil in the progressively enter-'d snake sections and by sur--' face contact engagement of said snake and inner cage rurfaces only and whereby sa d snake is formed into convolutions frictionally held to said cage and lying in closely grouped relation in said cage and in planes lying transversely of the longitudinal axis of entering portions of said snake and of said cage and about which axis said cage is rotatably moved in working said snake, and said cage comprising inner and outer concentric conical shells, sa d outer shell being of frusto-conical form,- a head joining sad shells at their largest diameters, an axial y extended conical manipulation grip upon sa d head, an axial hollow guide member united with said outer shell at the truncated a1: "1: thereof and through which said snake s moved long tudinally into and out of storage in said cage. and means to resist movement of the snake through the guide during reciprocation of v the tool.

flexible snake, a housing for said snake including a hollow member having a closed rear end, said width from its rear end forwardly and terminating at its front end in a. guide for said snake axially aligned with the center of said rear-end. said guide being internally decreasingly tapered from its rear end forwardly and terminating forward of the tapered portion.

in an internally cylindrical portion, a supporting member projecting rearwardly from the center of the closed rear end, said snake being lnsertable through the guide to coil in the housing at the larger end thereof, clamping means associated with the guide and engaging the snake to secure the snake immovably in said guide, a spreader member carried by said closed rear end in align-' ment with the guide and decreasing in diameter from its rear end forwardly, said spreader memher being axially aligned with said guide and having a rounded forward end, said housing and the rear part of the spreader member being of frusto conical form with the cones concentric and having a common base and equal apical angles. I

'7. In a toolof the kind described, a resilient flexible shake; a housing for said snake including a hollow member having a closed rear end, said member decreasing in diameter from its rear end forwardly and terminating at its front end in a guide for said snake axially aligned with the center of said rear end, a supporting member projectlng rearwardly from the center of the closed rear end, said snake being insertable through the guide to coil in the housing at the larger end thereof, clamping means associated with the guide and engaging the snake to secure the snake immovably in said guide, and spreader means within the housing to engage the snake and direct it toward the side of the housing upon its movement inwardly through the guide.

8. In a tool of the kind described, a resilient flexible snake, a housing for said snake including a hollow member having a closed rear end, said forwardly and terminating at its front end in a guide for said snake axially aligned with the center of said rear end, said guide being decreasingly tapered internally from its rear end forwardly, a supporting member projecting rearwardly from the center-of the closed rear end, said snake being insertable through the guide to coil in the housing at the larger end thereof, vclamping means associated with the guide and engaging the snake to secure the snake immovably in said guide, and spreader means within the housing to engage the snake and direct it toward the side of the housing upon its movement inwardly through the guide.

9. In a tool of the kind described,'a resilient flexible snake, a housing for said snake including a hollow member having a closed rear end, said member decreasing in diameter from its rear end forwardly and terminating at its front end in a guide tube for said snake axially aligned with the center of said rear end, a supporting member projecting rearwardly from. the center of the closed rear end, said snake being insertable through the guide tube to coil in the housing at the larger end thereof, clamping means associated with the guide tube and engaging the snake to secure the snake immovably in said tube, and a spreader-member carried by said closed rear end in alignment with the guide tube and decreasing in diameter from its rear end forwardly.

10. In a tool of the kind described, a resilient flexible snake; a housing for said snake including a hollow member having a closed rear end, said member decreasing in diameter from its rear end forwardly and terminating at its front end in a guide for said snake axially aligned with the center of said rear end, a supporting member projecting rearwardly-from the center of the closed rear end, said snake being insertable through the guide to coil in the housing at the larger end thereof, clamping means associated with the guide and engaging the snake to secure the snake immovably in said guide, and a spreader member axially aligned with said guide and having a rounded forward end.

11. In a tool-0f the kind described, a resilient flexible snake; a housing for said snake includ-r ing a hollow member having a closed rear end, said member decreasing in diameter from'its rear end forwardly and terminating at its front-end in a guide for said snake axially aligned .with the center of said rear end, said guide being decreasingly tapered internally from its rear end forwardly, a supporting member projecting rearwardly from the center of the closed rear end, said snake being insertable through the guide to coil in the housing at the large! end thereof,

clamping means associated with the guide and engaging the snake to secure the snake immovably .in said guide, a spreader member carried by said closed rear end in alignment with the guide and decreasing in diameter from its rear end forwardly, said spreader member being axially aligned with said guide and having a rounded forward end, said housing and the rear part of the spreader member being of frusto-conical form with the cones concentric and having a common base and equal apical angles.

' IRA D. YOHN.

DISCLAIMER I 2,037,104.Ifa D. Yohn, Los Angeles,. Calif. PLUMBERB SNAKE Toon. Patent dated April 14, 1936."Disclaimer filed May 16, 1940, by the assignee, A. G. Jordan Manufacturing Company] L Hereb enters this disclaimer to claims 1, 7, 8, and '10 of said Letters Patent.

[ flic'ial Gazette June 4, 1940.]

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent- Nor 2,037,104;

IRA D. YOHN.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: In the headin to the drawing, 1i'ne 5, for "Sept. 19, 1955" read Sept. 19, 1952; and thetthe said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record'of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 21st day July, A. D. 1936.

Henry Van, Arsdale (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents.

April 14; 1936. 

